At approximately 9:15 p.m. on Friday, February 15, 2013, a Fruitport Township Police officer observed a 35-year-old White Cloud man exit the Walmart store located at 1879 E. Sherman. The male subject was running, pushing a cart which contained two televisions. The subject pushed the cart to a waiting vehicle in the parking lot where he loaded the TV’s into the vehicle.
The officer, familiar with prior shoplifting incidents of this nature at this location, made contact with the male and inquired about a receipt. The male subject was unable to produce a receipt. Store surveillance video was reviewed which showed the male subject had loaded the TV’s into a cart inside the store and left the store without paying for them.
The male subject was arrested and lodged at the Muskegon County Jail for Retail Fraud. The identity of the suspect is not being released by police at this time.
In unrelated incidents:
Police are still trying to identify a male subject reported to have been involved in multiple retail fraud incidents at another Fruitport retailer. Images from store surveillance videos were released on Friday, February 15, 2013, regarding that individual. A link to that previously released information follows: http://local.nixle.com/alert/4960433/
Additionally, police are seeking public assistance to identify another male subject who was reportedly involved in a retail fraud incident at a Fruitport area retailer on 02/11/2013. Store surveillance video images of that subject are attached.
No further information about the unsolved incidents, including the names of the retailers, is being released at this time.
Anyone with information regarding the identity of either of these individuals or about these reported shoplifting incidents is asked to contact Fruitport Township Police Department at (231) 865-8477 or Silent Observer at (231) 72-CRIME. Callers can remain anonymous.
Fruitport Township has a number of retail establishments within its jurisdiction, and Fruitport Township Police Department works closely with the retailers to investigate retail fraud incidents and arrest offenders. Offenders are prosecuted through the Muskegon County Prosecutor’s Office.
Preliminary statistics for 2012 indicate Fruitport Township Police Department handled over 380 retail fraud complaints – an average of over one a day. To date for 2013, approximately 30 retail fraud incidents have been reported to Fruitport Township Police Department.
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